Vending-machine.



C. M. GREY.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 4, 191|.

1, 170,895. Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET I.

/mrlesM Greg ATYOHNEYS THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, D. c.

c. M. GREY. VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN- 4 |911.

Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2 C. M. GREYA VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION man 1AN.4,191|.

Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3 w/mfssfs.l IN1/Enron (haras/V. Greg By Wj Arronmfrs C. M. GREY.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION msn JAN. 4, 191|.

Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

wmvfssfs; /m/H/ol.7 l 'lzarZesM (lieg By i Afro/mns C. M. GREY.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.4.19H.

l 170,895. Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

ATTRIVEYS THB COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH co.. wAsHxNa'rON, D. c.

C. M. GREY.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPucATmN FILED 1AN.4, |911.

1, 170,895. Patented Feb. 8, 1916.

6 SHEETSASHEET 6.

WZ; fo, .7 (7m/'MSM Grey ATTORNEYS TMB COLUMBIA PugoqnAPH cu.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

UNITE@ STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES M. GREY, OF EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

LTENDING-INACHINE.

Application filed. January 4, 1911.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. GREY, a citizen of the United States, residing in East Orange, county of Essex, and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Vending-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a vending machine of simple and efficient construction, and it embodies, among other things, the following novel. features of construction: First, a vending machine the operation of which is dependent upon a coin having standard dimensions of diameter and thickness; second, a combination of a coin slide and one or more article delivery slides with their cooperative mechanism whereby the operation of the coin slide controls the operation of the article delivery slide; and, third, a plurality of magazines having article delivery slides cooperating with slide locking mechanism and with article discharge mechanism, whereby when an article is being delivered from one magazine the other magazines are locked against operation.

Other features of novelty, in addition t those enumerated, will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description and claims read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated different practical embodiments of the invention, but the constructions shown therein are to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

Fio'ure 1 is a vertical section, partly in elevation, the plane of the section being indicated by the irregular dotted line 1-1 of Fig. 2. Fig. Q is a horizontal section, partly in plan, the plane of the section being indicated by the lotted line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section through the completed machine on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is another vertical cross section on the line i-4. of Fig. 2, showing a part of the coin actuated mechanism, the operation of which is dependent upon two dimensions of a coin. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the coin actuated mechanism embodying a plurality of members, one of which is a wedge, which depend for their operation upon the dimensions of a coin. Fig. 6 is a vertical Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 600,763.

section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5. Figs. 7 and 8 are views in side elevation and top plan respectively of another embodiment of a coin actuated mechanism employing a system of levers for operating a transmitting member. Figs. 9 and 10 are views in side elevation and top plan7 respectively, of another emhodiment of coin actuated mechanism wherein a differential gear is employed for combining the two dimensions of a coin and to operate the transmitting member.

I have elected to show my invention embodied in a vending machine having a particular form of casing, A, for containing a plurality of magazines, B, said casing being constructed to provide the chamber, a, adapted to contain some of the operating mechanism for the article delivery slides, C. In addition to the magazines and chamber, a, an end portion, A', of the casing is constructed of dimensions which in vertical and horizontal cross section are less than that of casing, A, proper, therehy producing a chamber, a', adapted to vcontain coin actuated mechanism by which the operations of the article delivery devices are controlled. Casing, A, is shown as having a horizontal platform, D, which is provided with grooves or guides for the desired number of article delivery slides, C, which slides rest upon the platform so as to be supported thereby. The slides are movable in the guides across the platform, each slide cooperating with one of the magazines, B. Each slide is provided at its front end with a pull piece, c, and depending from the slide at or near its rear end is a lug, c', said lug being positioned for operation in one of a plurality of slots, d', provided in platform, D. The casing is provided with a shelf, A2, which is fixed in position and eX- tends across the front portions of slides, C, just in rear of the pull pieces, c, thereof. Extending upwardly from shelf, A2, of the casing is a glass panel, A3, suitably supported in the casing and positioned in front of magazines, B, for the purpose of exposing the contents within said magazines.

The magazines are of any suitable construction; they are suitably secured within casing, A, and any desired number of magazines may be employed, although in Figs. 1 and 2 I have shown a series of four of such magazines. Each slide, C, is provided, also, with a slot, e, into which is adapted to drop the lowermost article in the stack or pile contained in the magazine with which the slide is associated, the articles being fed into the slot in the slide by gravity. In my machine means are not provided for locking the slides against movement within the casing, although it is evident that such locking means may be employed should it be found desirable or necessary. In order to preclude the discharge of an article from each slidevwhen one of the latter is pulled forward, I employ means coperating with the slide to retain the article in slot, c, thereof until the slide is permitted to move to its eXtreme front position by certain adjustments of the operating mechanism embodied in the machine. Said retaining means is illustrated as a leaf or pivoted member, E, the same being positioned below each slide so as to cooperate with the slotted part thereof. The series of leaves or pivoted members are positioned normally in the horizontal plane of platform, D, said leaves being retained in frictional contact with the slides by the action of pressure springs, E, secured to the under side of platform, D, and engaging individually with the leaves. Each leaf is provided with a depending arm, f, which is pivoted by a pin, f', to a lug f2, provided on the under side of platform, D, whereby the leaves are supported independently of each other o a common platform and said leaves are in ividually pressed by springs to their operative positions with respect to the series of article delivery slides, C.

F, designates a rock shaft positioned hori-y zontally within chamber, a, of the casing and below the platform, D, therein. Said rock vshaft is mounted in suitable bearings provided in pillar blocks, F1", secured rigidly to the bottom of casing, A. Furthermore, the rock shaft is provided with crank arms, g, corresponding in number to pivoted leaves, E, and said arms of the rock shaft are connected by links, G, to the series of leaves, each link being pivoted at one end to a crank arm, g, of the rock shaft, and at its other end said link is pivoted to an arm, f, of the pivoted leaf.

Casing, A, is provided at its lower part with a front member, A4, said member having a series of longitudinal delivery chutes or passages, a3, the lower end of each passage opening above a tray, a, provided in said front member, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3. Back wall, a5, of the passages or chutes, a3, is provided at its upper edge with a seat, a6, for the reception of the free end of pivoted leaves, E, when the latter are dropped downwardly to a position which will permit an article to drop out of slot, e, of the slide, C, upon said slide being pulled forward to an eXtreme front position, whereby an article of slide, C, will be free to fall by gravity from slot, c, npon inclined leaf, E, and then pass through chute or passage, a3, upon tray, (L4, at the front of the casing, from whence the article may be readily removed by the hand of the purchaser.

It is to be observed that slides, C, are free to move with respect to platform, D, the front, c4, of the casing, and pivoted leaves, E, but these leaves are retained in their raised positions by the operations of springs, E, until a coin of the proper dimensions is deposited in the machine and until said coin operates a coin controlled mechanism by which shaft, F, is actuated so as to move one of the pivoted leaves, E, to a downwardly inclined position and into engagement with the seat, a, of the front, A4.

H, indicates a main or prime shaft eX- tending lengthwise of casing, A, and positioned within chamber, a, thereof. As shown, the main shaft is longer than rock shaft, F; the two shafts, H, F, are parallel; shaft, H, is supported in bearings of pillar blocks, F10, and of posts, F2, and one end of said shaft, H, extends below the coin actuated mechanism positioned within compartment, a, of the casing, see Figs. l and 2. The main shaft, H, is provided with a depending arm, it, shown in dotted lines, in Fig. 3, and in full lines in Fig. l, to which arm is attached one end of a prime mover, herein shown as a spring, H', anchored at one end to a lug, t, fastened rigidly to the bottom of the casing, A. Said spring operates to rotate shaft, II, in one direction for the purpose of normally retaining all of the article delivery slides, C, in retracted positions, wherein the slot, e, of each slide will be in register vertically with one of the magazines, B. The main shaft is operatively related or connected to each of the article delivery slides by providing a number of arms, I, on the main shaft, said arms extending upwardly and rearwardly from the shaft and coperating with the pendent lug, c', of the slides, see Fig. 3. It will be observed that the spring acts on the shaft to retain arms, I, in engagement with the lugs of the slides for the purpose of retaining the slides in their retracted positions, as shown in Fig. 3. But either of the slides, may be pulled forward by hand, in which event the arm, I, will be drawn toward the front, and shaft, H, will be rocked to increase the tension of spring, H, but when the pull on the slide is removed, then the spring acts to turn the shaft and the arm for the purpose of drawing the slide back to normal position. As hereinbefore stated the slides can be operated without restraint, but the articles will not be delivered from said slides, or

from either of them, until the coin is deposited and until it actuates to set into operative position the mechanism which controls the operation of the pivoted leaves, E, by which the delivery of the articles is effected from the slots of the slides.

I will not proceed to describe the mechanism to be operated by the deposit of a coin, said mechanism cooperating with the article delivery mechanisms in such manner that when the coin-actuated mechanism is moved to a predetermined position by the coin, then the article delivery mechanisms will be so controlled that one of the article delivery slides can be moved by hand to a position for discharging the article from the machine.

It is to be noted, before proceeding to a detailed description of this part of the invention, that the coin controlled mechanism is dependent for its operation upon one or more dimensions of the coin, preferably upon two dimensions thereof, to witzthe diameter and the thickness of the coin. Stated brieiiy, the coin controlled mechanism embodies coacting members, one of which is movable, adapted for engagement with the edge of a coin, other coacting members, one of which is movable, adapted for contact with the faces of a coin, and means actuated by the resultant of the motions im parted by the coin to said movable members whereby a transmitting member is operated in such a manner that other mechanism is set into position for controlling the operation of the article delivery mechanism. Said coin-controlled mechanism will be operated only by a coin of proper diameter and thickness, but any coin, such as one which by wear is decreased in diameter or thickness, or in both dimensions, will be passed through the coin mechanism without operating the article delivery mechanism. Furthermore, any substitute for a coin, such as a slag, the dimensions of which docs not correspond to those of standard coins, will not operate the article delivery mechanism. The novel coin controlled mechanism thus fulfils a most important function, for the reason that it acts as an ei'iicient fraud preventive. ln other words, coins introduced into the machine without examination cannot operate to secure the delivery of articles from the machine, the coin controlled mechanism of this invention operating. in effect, to examine thc coins and, if found or" the right dimension, to operate the other mechanisms, but if defective in one or more dimensions, to preclude the operation of the article delivery mechanism.

.Experience shows that coins are snbject to wear most at the rims thereof; next the wear affects the diameter, hat the least wear tak-es place upon the faces of the coins, hence the thickness of the coins are least subject to change. It is well know, also, that street railway corporations, banks and other institutions object to receiving coins which have become worn to such an extent as to substantially efface the inscriptions and ornamentation upon the faces of the coins.

My mfchanism acts to reject coins which have becon'i-. worn to such an extent as to efface the inscriptions and ornamentation upon the faces, for the reason that such wear necessarily decreases the thicknesses of the coins. Acifordingly, mechanism affected by contact with the faces as well as the edges of coins is more eflicient, reliable and certain in operation than coin slots of given fixed dimensions, and other form of mechanisms dcpendent upon one ,flimcnsiom such as the diameter of the coin.

For the reasons stated, l prefer to use coin controlled mechanism operated by a plurality of dimensions, diameter and thickness, of coins, although in some instances, I may use coin controlled mechanism embodying movable parts and dependent for operation upon one accurate dimension of a coin, such as either the diameter or the thickness of the coin.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. l, t?, 4, 5 and 6, ,l is a bed plate supported in a fixed position within compartment` o', of the member, A', forming a part of the machine casing. Said bed plate is provided with guides, j, for directing a coin slide, J, in a rectilinear path, said coin slide being provided near one end with depending lugs, see Figs. 4 and G, between which lugs operate a stud, llc', on a crank arm, K, the latter being fixed to main shaft, H, for the purpose of imparting movement to slide. J', when the main shaft is rocked by a pull upon one of the article deliifery slides, C. Said coin slide is provided in its upper face with a recess, Z, terminating at one end in a shoulder, Z, against which is adapted to rest the edge of the coin when the latter is deposited in the recess of the slide, whereby the slide and the shoulder thereof act to impart movement to the coin for positioning it for contact with the coin-engaging members so as to actuate the movable members.

The coins are introduced through a slot, m, in the upper part of a coin chute or tube. M, supported in a. fixed position by bed plate, J, within compartmenhc, of the casing. Said chute or tube is positioned over the coin slide to deliver the coins to recess, Z, therein, the front bottom part of the coin chute or tube being cut away, as at m in Fig. to allow the coins to pass with the coin slide into position for contact with the movable members of the coin controlled mechanism.

L, L', are the members adapted for engagement with the edge of the coin, member, L', being a jaw fixed upon bed plate, J, and member', L, being a jaw having an inclined edge, Z", constituting, in effect a wedge. Member, L, is movable in a sidewise direction relative to fixed member, L', when a coin is introduced by slide, J, between said members, L, L', said sidewise movement being communicated to mechanism which operates to actuate a transmitting member, T", .and thus move it to a certain position, as will presently appear.

O designates another movable member positioned for cooperation with coin slide, J', and adapted to be operated by contact with the faces of a coin. Coin slide, J', is one of the members and, O, is another member, adapted to contact with the faces of the coin and operated by the thickness of the coin. Member O is shown as a roller or wheel positioned directly above recess, l, in coin slide, J', so as to normally lie in the path of the coin, said member, O, resting upon the recessed part, l, of the coin slide.

P designates a frame or housing for supy porting certain working parts of the coin controlled mechanism, said frame or housing being attached to bed plate, J, or to any other part fixed within the machine. In a guide way, g, of the frame or housing is a slidable bar, Q, which carries the movable coin-edge member, L, the other end of the bar having an enlarged head, g'. This head, g', slides in a horizontal slot, p, of frame, P, and it is provided with a vertical groove, g", see Fig. 5.

Member or roller, O, is supported for rotation on a pin, 0, attached to the lower end of a vertical stem, O', the latter being slidable in a` sleeve or tubular guide member o', of the frame or housing, see Figs. 5 and 6. The upper end of stem, O', terminates in a knife edge bearing, o", with which engages a lever, R, the latter being fulcrumed by a pin, 7', to frame, P. To the other end of said lever is pivoted the upper end of a link R', passing downwardly through a guide opening (indicated by dotted lines at r' in Fig.

' 5), the lower end of said link being loosely connected to a wedge block, S. Said wedge block has a vertical rear edge positioned to slide in the vertical groove, Q", of the head, f/j', on slidable bar, Q; said wedge block, S, being slidable vertically with link, R', when member or shoe, O, is operated by a coin, such vertical movement of the wedge block taking place relative to the grooved head of the slidable bar, Q. At the same time, the wedge block is slotted for the reception of link, R', so that the wedge block will be movable in a horizontal direction with the head of horizontal bar, Q, such horizontal movement of the wedge block being relative to link, R. The wedge block is provided is provided with a rack'bar, t, with which meshes a` gear, t', on a horizontal shaft, T', the latter being journaled in a bearing of frame, P, said shaft being provided at one end with a crank arm, T", which in this form of the invention constitutes the transmitting member of the coin controlled mechanism.

It is to be observed that when coin slide, J, pushes a coin between jaws, L, L', and beneath member, Q, said coin contacts at its edges with the jaws, and one face of the coin contacts with member, O. The movement of the co-in operates to impart movement to jaw, L, away from jaw, L', due to the fact that the jaws are normally separated for a distance less than the diameter of the predetermined coin. The other member, O, is lifted by contact with the face of the coin resting upon slide, J', such movement of member, O, taking place simultaneously with the movement of member, L, whereby the movable members, L, C, are operated at the same time and by contact with the edges and the face, respectively,

of the coin. The movement of member, L,

is communicated through bar, Q, and head, q', to wedge block, S, the latter acting on wedge block, T, to move the latter a definite distance. Member, O, operates to move lever,

P., which in turn raises link, R', and Wedge T block, S, the latter being slidable in the groove of head, g', whereby the inclined face of block, S, rides against the similar face of block, T, for the purpose of moving said block, T, for an additional distance.

lt is now apparent that block, T, is moved for a certain distance by member, L, and it is moved a further distance by member, O, the two movements depending upon two dimensions of the coin, z'. e., the diameter and the thickness thereof. The movements of members, L, O, are thus aggregated by the mechanisms acting to impart a certain travel to wedge block, T, and the resultant movement of members, L, O, is thus communicated to the arm, T", which constitutes the member by which motion is given to certain elements of the coin actuated mechanism.

As shown in Figs. l, 4, 5 and G, arm, T, is pivoted at its lower end to a link u, the latter being pivoted to a horizontal carrierbar, U, which bar is slidable in hangers or lugs, u', fast or integral with bedplate, J, or frame, P, as desired. The hangers or lugs are provided with openings, u2, ua, the openings, u2, being circular and in alinement to receive the carrier-bar, U. Openings, 11,3,

are, also, circular and in alinement with each other to form supporting bearings for an end portion of rock shaft, F, that part of shaft, F, between said openings of lugs or hangers, u', being square or polygonal in cross section, as at F, see Figs. 5 and 6, for a purpose to be explained.

Bar, U, is provided with a fixed shoulder, t, and with a nut, 'u'. A crosshead or carrier block V, is fitted on the bar so as to engage shoulder, '21, and to be held in po sition by nut, o', the carrier block being thus made slidable with bar, U, when the latter is moved endwise by arm, T, of the coin actuated mechanism. Said carrier block is provided with a square opening to receive the square part, F', of rock shaft, F, the carrier block being slidably fitted to said squared part of the rock shaft, whereby the carrier block is movable with bar, U, and it is adapted to rock or oscillate the rock shaft. The carrier block is provided with an arm, V, on which is mounted a shoe or wheel V the latter being adapted for engagement with the periphery of a cam, W,

Vsaid cam being secured xedly in a certain position on the main shaft, H. When no coin is present upon slide, J, the parts occupy the positions shown in the drawings, particularly Fig. 5, the carrier block and its shoe, V, being out of line or register with cam whe-el, W, but when a coin is advanced by slide, J, between members L, O, and arm, T, is moved the. required distance by the mechanism actuated by said members, L, O, then the arm, T, operates sliding bar, U, so as to move carrier block, V, sidewise, whereby shoe or wheel, V, is moved into register with the cani wheel, for the purpose of making said shoe ride upon the periphery of the cam wheel when shaft, H, is rotated a certain angular distance by the forward pull of one of the article delivery slides to the limit of its forward movement. It will be noted that the cam, l/V, comprises high and low parts, and when the shoe or roller of the carrier block is shifted into register with said cam wheel, said shoe or roller contacts with the low part of the cam; but when shaft H, is rotated by the pull of the slide to its limit in a forward direction, then the high part of the cam operates to rock or turn the carrier block relative to the carrier rod or bar, U, said carrier block having a curved slot, V, (see Fig. ff) to permit of such relative mevement to bar, U, with which the block is slidable, the result of which is to rock or turn shaft, F, in its bearings, said shaft being rotated by reason of the engagement of the carrier block with the squared part, F', of said shaft, whereby shaft, F,`operates by links, G, to lower the pivoted leaves or valves, E, associated with the article delivery slides so that the article in the slot of the particular slide, C, which is pulled forward will drop into delivery chute, a3, the other sides, C, being retained in theirv retracted or normal positions by the operation slide-locking mechanism to be presently described.

During the rotation of cam wheel, W, during the period that the shoe of the carrier bloclr is in contact therewith for the purpose of lowering the pivoted valves or leaves, for the purpose described, the slidable bar, U, and the carrier block are locked or retained against return to their normal positions, even though the coin be discharged from slide, J', by the action of an automatic locking mechanism. One form of such locking mechanism is shown as comprising a grooved collar, X, and a slidable bolt, X', said collar being fast with bar, U. rlhe bolt is slidable in a fixed sleeve, extending radially with respect to the bar, see Figs. 5 and 6, said bolt having a beveled head, w', adapted to fit snugly in the groove of the collar, see dotted lines in Fig. 6. The bolt is retracted from the path of the collar on bar, U, by a suitable spring, ai, and at the proper time in the operation of the mechanism the bolt is forced by the high part of a cam, X, into engagement with the groove of the collar, said cam being fixed to shaft, H, and it operates againsta roller or shoe, attached to an end portion of the latch bolt. It is apparent that after bar, U, has been moved by arm, T, into a position to move carrier block a required distance for the cam, Vv, to rock or turn the block, cam, X, will act on bolt, X, to press its beveled head into engagement with grooved collar X, thereby locking bar, U, and carrier block V, against sliding movement during the period that rock shaft, F, is operated to lower the valves or leaves, E, for the discharge of the article from one of the slides, C. But when the cam is returned to normal position, the high part of said cam, is withdrawn from shoe, and the spring, withdraws the bolt from the collar, X, whereupon the bar, U, and carrier block, V, arc returned to their' normal position by the action of a spring X4.

Slide, J, is moved forward sufficiently for the coin to be discharged beyond the members, L, O, and the other parts of the coin actuated mechanism, the coins dropping into compartment, a', or into a receptacle provided for the purpose.

Then the slide, J', is first set into action, a sudden forward impulse is given thereto by the operation of rock shaft, H, and arm, K, and to overcome the momentum of the coin slide, I provide a brake or check mechanism, shown in Fig. 6. At its rear, the coin slide is provided with a track surface j,

which is elevated considerably above the shouldered part Z, of the slide. Upon this track surface is adapted to ride the shoe or roller, ja, of a spring pressed brake or check plunger J, the latter being slidable in a fixed guide, j?, the spring of said plunger being shown at jg. When the slide is moved forward by arm, K, acting on one of the lugs, 7c, to force a coin between members, L, L', and O, J, the shoe, j, rides upon track surface, j, and while said shoe ascends the curve or incline, jg, the forward sudden movement of the slide is arrested, for the reason that the spring js opposes the raising of the plunger jf when the roller j reaches the incline on the coin slide.

When one of the series of article delivery slides, C, is pulled forward, it is essential that the other slides, C, be locked in retracted positions so as to preclude a forward movement of two of the slides at one time. This is accomplished in my machine by the employment of slide locking mechanism, shown more particularly in Figs. 2 and 3.

Each slide, C, is provided with a keeper 5, in which is slidably fitted a wedge like locking block 6, the respective ends of each block being inclined or beveled to give the wedge effect to the block. At one side of the series of slides, C, is positioned a fixed keeper 7, a similar keeper 8 being fixed at the opposite side of the series of slides. In fixed keepers 7, 8 are positioned wedge blocks 9, 10, each having a beveled edge, said keepers having guide stems 11 on which are positioned coiled springs 12, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. Other fixed keepers 13 are secured in positions over the adjacent edges of slides, C, and in the fixed intermediate keepers 13 are slidably fitted other wedge blocks 14, the ends of which are beveled or inclined oppositely to the bevels of wedge blocks 6 in the keepers 5, one of said keepers 5 and blocks 6 being connected to each of said slides for movement therewith.

When the slides, C, are in their normal retracted positions, the wedge blocks 6 on said slides are in alinement with the wedge blocks 9, 10 and 14 of the fixed keepers 7, 8, 13, respectively, the springs 12 being extended so that the tension thereof is exerted upon blocks 7, 8, and all the inclined surfaces of the blocks 7, 8 and 14 are in contact. Upon a forward movementof one slide, C, of the series of slides, the keeper 5 attached to the pulled slide and the wedge block 6 in said keeper move forwardly with the slide, said forward movement of the wedge block operating to impart endwise movement to all the other wedge blocks 6, 14, 9, 10, which slide in the fixed keepers 13, 7, 8 and those keepers 5 on the slides, C, which are not pulled forward, whereby springs 12 are compressed. During the period that the pulled slide remains in a forward position, all the wedge blocks 6 on the remaining unpulled slides are precluded from moving forwardly should an attempt be made to pull either of the remaining slides forwardly, for the reason that the wedge blocks are shifted for all of them to interlock with the keepers of the next adjacent wedge blocks, and as the pockets in the keepers 7, 8, are each only equal in depth to the depth of one wedge surface of the different wedges G and 14, said wedge blocks operate to eifectually lock all the slides except the forwardly pulled slide. Upon the return of the pulled slide to normal position, the springs 12 react to impel the wedge blocks to normal positions, and thus any one slide of the series can be again manipulated to secure the delivery of an article from the proper magazine. It is obvious, however, that the slides can be operated only one at a time, and upon the deposit of a proper coin of predetermined dimensions, te secure the delivery of a single article at each cycle of operations of the mechanisms in the machine.

The operation of the machine upon the deposit of a coin of proper dimensions both as regards diameter and thickness may stated as follows: The coin passes through chute, M, and is deposited unen coin slide. J', in engagement with shoulder', Z, thereof. 1t is necessary for the purchase@1 te pull forward en the article delivery slide, C, which may be selected, whereupon the following operations take place automatically in the machine. Arm, I, is moved forwardly by lug, 0, of the pulled slide, thus turning shaft, H, against the tension of spring, H. Shaft, H., imparts movement to arm, K, which advances coin slide, J se as to push the coin into contact with members, li, the movements ef which are combined and impart movement to arm, T, said arm operating to swing carrier block, V, for shoe, V, to ride upon cam, W, so that continued movement of shaft, H, acts to impart rotative moven'ient to cams, ff, X". rThe slidable bar, U, and carrier block, V, are locked temporarily by bolt, X', engaging with groeved collar, X, and the rocking nievement given to block, V, by the action of cam, lV, results in the carrier block imparting a rocking movement to shaft F, the effect of which is to turn arms, g, and pull on lin j G, so as to lower valves or leaves, E, whereby thc pocket in the forward pulled slide is opened and the article in said pocket will drop upon the valve or leaf below the pulled slide, thus delivering the article to the purchaser through the chute, a3. rt this time the wedge blocks of the slide locking mecha.- nism are so shifted as to lock all Lne remaining slides, thus precluding the delivery of more than one article from the machine when a single coin is deposited. The forward movement of coin slide, J, to a posi tion where the coin is carried beyond members, L, O, moves the coin to a position waere it may be etfectually discharged from the slide and into compartment, 0f, or a pr per receptacle. This discharge of the coin from the coin slide is etiiected by imparting a quick returnor backward movement to said coin slide, and this backward movement takes place so quickly that the coin is displaced from the slide and drops into the receptacle. If necessary, means may be provided for offering resistance to the return of the coin with the slide upon the backward movement of the latter. In this connection it is desired to state that members, L, O, are held or locked in their opened or spaced positions, by reason of the bolt, X', engaging collar, X, on sliding bar, U, when the slide begins its return movement, but before this return movement is completed, the slide bar is released and the members, L, O, are moved back to their normal position by spring, X4. Vhen the pull on slide, C, is released, spring, H', acts to return shaft, H, and arm, I, so as to draw slide, C, into the machine, slide, J', being returned back to first position by arm, K, operated by shaft, H. The coin having been ejected from the slide, members, L, O, are free to return to normal positions, bolt, X', being retracted by spring, from engagement with grooved collar, X, when cam, X, turns for its part to be opposite to the shoe, 60", on the bolt, whereby bar, U, and carrier block, V, are adapted to return to normal positions when members, L, O, are returned to similar positions by the action of a suitable spring.

The foregoing operations take place to deliver one article from the machine each time a coin of proper dimensions, both as regards diameter and thickness, is deposited in the coin Chute. Should a coin wear to such an extent either in diameter or thickness, or both, as to fall below a certain standard of measurement, or should a slug the dimensions of which either as to diameter or thickness, or both, not measure up to the dimensions of standard coins, be deposited in the machine, the members, L, O, or either of them, will be operated to impart a certain movement to the bar, U, and carrier block, V. The movement thus imparted to these parts will not, however, be suficient to bring the carrier block into register with the cam wheel, TW, and although one of the slides, C, can be pulled forward, no delivery of the article in the slide will take place, for the reason that the cam wheel, lV, cannot impart motion to block, V, being out of register or contact with shoe,

V, on said block, and, accordingly, no rocking motion can be imparted to shaft, l?, thus preventing valves or leaves, E, from operating, the springs, E', operating to keep the valves or leaves in their closed positions, notwithstanding the fact that the slides, C, may be successively operated.

The coin actuated mechanism may be embodied in different forms of construction. The mechanism heretofore described employs wedge devices adapted to communicate the resultant of motions due to the contact of members, L, O, with the edge and face, respectively, of a coin, but in lieu of the wedge mechanism I may employ lever mechanism shown in Figs. 7 and 8, or a differential gear mechanism, shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the detailed constructions of which I will now describe.

The coin actuated mechanism embodying the lever system shown in Figs. 7 and 8 employs the coin chute, M, frame or housing, P, slidable bar, U, carrier block or cross head, V, shafts, H, F, cams, lV, X, andthe various other parts heretofore described en cepting the particular form of transmitting and multiplying mechanism between mem-- bers, L, L', O, and a transmitting member connected with link, u, for actuating slidable bar, U. It will be understood that wedge blocks, S, T, are omitted and in lieu thereof, and the parts directly associated therewith, I employ the following devices Movable member or jaw, L, is attached to sliding bar, Q10. The outer end of this bar is connected by a pivot 15 to the lower end of a vertically disposed lever 16, positioned within vertical slot 17 of housing, P. The upper end of said lever is fulcrumed by a pin 18 to the housing, and vto said lever is attached a pin 19, said pin 19 being positioned intermediate the ends of the lever, at the middle thereof. The pin 19 connects a horizontal link 2O direct y to lever 16, the other end of link 20 being pivoted by a pin 21 to a vertically disposed lever 22. The upper end of lever 22 is connected by a pin 23 to a block 24 which is fitted loosely in a slot 25 of a transmitting lever 26, said transmitting lever being the equivalent of the transmitting member, T, heretofore described.

The roll or wheel forming member Q, adapted for engagement with the face of a coin on coin slide, J, is provided at its upper end with a beveled head or bearing block, 0, with which engages one arm or" a bell crank lever 27. Said lever is pivoted at its knee by a pin to the housing or frame, P. A long arm of the bell crank lever 27 extends downwardly into slot 17 of the frame or housing so that the lever is free to move or play therein. The lower end of said bell crank lever is connected by a pin 29 to a horizontal link 30, the other end of which link extends beyond the housing and is connected by a pin 31 to the lower end of lever 22.

Transmitting lever 26 is fulcrumed by a pin 33 to a. ixed upstanding arm 34 of the frame 0r housing, the lower end of said transmitting lever 26 being connected by a pin 35 to one end of link, u, the other end of which link isconnected to the slidable bar, U.

The operation of the mechanism shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is quite similar to the coin actuated mechanism heretofore described. When a coin is advanced by a slide, J, between jaws, L, L, and below roll or wheel, O, jaw, L, contacts with the edge of the coin and is moved in a sidewise direction with relation to jaw, L', while wheel or roll, O, rides upon the face of the coin and is lifted by said coin. The movement of jaw, L, depends upon the diameter of the coin and the elevation of wheel, O, equals the thickness of the coin. The sidewise movement of jaw, L, is communicated by bar, Q1", to lever 16, and this lever imparts movement to link 2O and lever 22, the said lever 22 operating to impart a certain movement to transmitting lever 26. The elevation of wheel or member, O, turns bellcrank lever 27 on its fulcrum 28, and the long arm of said lever 27 operates link 30 to impart a certain movement to lever 22, which movement is communicated to lever 26. It will thus be seen that the lever system is operated by movable members, L, O, a certain movement of mem ber, L, imparting a certain movement to lever 26, and the movement of member, O, operating the intermediate mechanism to communicate an additonal movement to lever 26, whereby transmitting lever 26 is operated by the resultant movement of the two members, L, O. Said lever 26 imparts a desired movement to slidablc bar, U. Should the inserted coin conform in diameter and thickness to the measurement of standard coins, members, L, O, will impart such movement to transmitting lever 26 that cross head, V, will be moved into register' with cam, XV, for the purpose of operating the article delivery mechanism; but should the inserted coin or slug fall below the standard dimensions, then the movement which is imparted to lever 26 will not be suflicient to bring cross head, V, into a position where its roller or shoe, V, will register with cam, W, and, accordingly, the vending mechanism will not be operated to deliver the article.

The differential gear employed in the coin actuated mechanism of Figs. 9 and 10 employs the members, L, L', O, the slidable bar, U, operated by a transmitting member 36, and the various other devices as herebefore described. Member, L, is fixed to a sliding bar, Q2", supported in housing, P, said bar being provided with an upstanding arm 37. This arm terminates in a horizontal member 38 vprovided with rack teeth, said rack member extending over a gear wheel 39, the latter being fixed to a short tubular shaft 40. Said shaft is journaled in bearings 41 provided on the frame, P, and extending through the tubular shaft 40 and bearings 41 is a shaft 42, one end portion of which is supported in a distant bearing 41a. To one end of the shaft 42 is secured the sector 36 forming the transmitting member above referred to, said sector having teeth which mesh with the teeth 42a on an end portion of the sliding bar, U, the toothed end portion of said bar being supported in a fixed guide 43 so as to slide therein.

44 is a yoke the ends of which are sleeved on tubular shaft 40 and an end portion of shaft 42, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 10, said yoke being iitted loosely around the shafts 40, 41, concentric therewith, whereby the yoke is rotatable relative to the shafts and is free to turn thereon, said shaft 42 being rotatable within the tubular shaft 40. The tubular shaft 40 is provided at one end with a bevel gear 46, and supported on the yoke 44 is a bevel gear 47, the lattenbeing rotatable freely on the yoke. Gears 45, 46, face each other, and gear 47 is positioned between said gears 45, 46, so as to mesh therewith, said gear 47 being movable with the yoke when the latter is given a. partial rotation relative to shaft 42.

The member, G, is mounted in a vertical sliding stem having a head, o, the latter engaging with an end portion of a lever 48. Said lever is fulcrumed by a pin 49 in frame, P, and to the other end of said lever is pivo'ted a link 50, the lower end of which is pivoted by a pin 51 to the movable yoke 44.

When slide, J', carries a coin between members, L, L', and below member, O, member, L, is moved sidewise by contact with the edge of the coin and member, O, is lifted by contact with the face of the coin. The movement of member, L, slides bar, Q2", and rack member 38, thus rotating gear 39, tubular shaft 40, gear 45, intermediate gear 47, and gear 46 to rotate shaft 42 a certain angular distance. At the same time, member, (D, operates lever 48 to lift link 50 and thus impart a rocking motion to the oscillatory saddle 44. Gear 45 being held by rack member 38 and jaw, L, from rotating backward, the movement of saddle 44 causes gear 47 to travel on fixed gear 45, thus imparting a certain rotative motion to gear 47, which rotative movement is communicated to gear 46 and shaft 42 is thus given an additional rotative movement.

1t is apparent that shaft 42 will be turned af certain distance by the devices actuated by the diameter of the coin, and, further, that the shaft is turned a certain further distance by the devices actuated by the thickness of the coin, the movements of the two devices being multiplied by the lever and the gear mechanism, and the separate movements of said devices being aggregated by the mechanism so as to impart to the bar, U, the travel required to bring the cross head into cooperative relation to the coin by which the vending mechanism is actuated.

It is evident that a skilled constructor can modify the machine in form, size, proportion of parts and details of construction.

Accordingly, it is not desired or intended to limit the invention to minor details and non essential features, but to reserve the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the invention as defined in the annexed claims.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. In a vending machine, coin-actuated mechanism embodying a plurality of coin-engaging members having means whereby said members are rendered movable relative to each other, the extent of such relative movement being dependent upon the thickness and diameter of a coin, a transmitting member, and means operated by the movement of one of the coin-engaging members for actuating the transmitting member, combined with article-delivery mechanism, and mechanism cooperating with the transmitting member for controlling the operation of the articledelivery mechanism.

2. In a vending machine, coin-actuated mechanism embodying a plurality of movable coin-engaging members, means whereby the movement of one member is dependent upon one dimension of a coin, means whereby the movement of another of said movable members is dependent upon another dimension of a coin, a transmitting member, and means actuated by the respective movable members for imparting movement to the transmitting member, combined with article-delivery mechanism, and mechanism cooperating with said transmitting member for controlling the operation of the articledelivery mechanism.

3. In a vending machine, coin-actuated mechanism embodying a plurality of coin face-engaging members, one of which is adapted for movement relative to the other, means operated by a coin for actuating the movable member, a plurality of coin edgeengaging members, one of which is adapted for movement relative to the other, means operable by a coin for actuating said movable edge-engaging member, a transmitting member, and means actuated by the respective movable members for imparting movement to said transmitting member, combined with article-delivery mechanism, and means coperating with the transmitting member for controlling the operation of the articledelivery mechanism.

4. In a vending machine, coin-engaging members, having varying movements and dependent for such movements upon the dimensions of a coin, means operable by a coin for eiecting said movements, a transmitting member, and means operated by said coinengaging members whereby the conjoint movement thereof is applied to actuate the transmitting member, combined with articledelivery mechanism, and mechanism coperating with the transmitting member for controlling the article-delivery mechanism.

5. In a vending machine, a plurality of coin face-engaging members, one of which is movable relative to the other, means operable by a coin for actuating said movable member, a plurality of coin edge-engaging members, one of which is movable relative to the other, means operable by a coin for actuating the movable edge-engaging member, a transmitting member, and means operated by the conjoint movement of said movable members for operating the transmitting member, combined with article delivery mechanism, and means operated by said transmitting member for controlling the article delivery member.

6. In a vending machine, coin-actuated mechanism embodying a plurality of coinengaging members, a transmitting member, and means operated by the movement of said coin-engaging members for operating the transmitting member, article delivery mechanism, means operated by the transmitting member for controlling the articledelivery mechanism, and locking means for restraining the transmitting member from movement during the operation of delivering an article by the article-delivery mechanism.

7. In a vending machine, the combination of a slide and a valve cooperating with said slide, valve controlling mechanism associated with the valve, regulating means cooperatin with the valve controlling mechanism an dependent for its operation upon the dimensions of a coin, and means operable by the movement of the slide for actuating the valve controlling mechanism when the same has been properly positioned by the regulating means.

8. In a vending machine, article delivery mechanism, coin-actuated members dependent for their operations upon the dimensions of a coin, means operable by a coin for actuating said members, a transmitting member, means operated by the conjoint movement of the coin actuated members for imparting movement to the transmitting member, and

means operated by said transmitting member for controlling the article delivery mechanism.

9. In a vending machine, coin actuated members dependent for their operation upon the dimensions of a coin, means operable by a coin for actuating said members, a transmitting member, means operated by the conjoint movement of the coin actuated mem.- bers for imparting movement to the transmitting member, article delivery mechanism including a movable delivery member, and means operated by the transmitting member for controlling the article delivery mechanism.

10. In a vending machine, coin actuated members dependent for their operation upon the dimensions of a coin, means operable by a coin for actuating said members, a transmitting member, means operated by the conjoint movement of the coin actuated members for imparting movement to the transmitting member, means for positioning a coin between said coin actuated members, an article-delivery mechanism, and devices actuated by the transmitting member for controlling the operation of the article-delivery mechanism.

11. In a vending machine, coin actuated members dependent for their operation upon the dimensions of a coin, means operable by a coin for actuating said members, a transmitting member, means operated by the conjoint movement of the coin actuated members for imparting movement to the transmitting member, a coin slide for advancing a coin into position for engagement by the coin actuated members, an article-delivery mechanism, and devices actuated by the movement of the transmitting member for controlling the operation of the article-delivery mechanism.

12. In a vending machine, coin actuated mechanism dependent for its operation upon the dimensions of a coin, article delivery mechanism, a slidable member operated by the coin actuated mechanism, means actuated by the movement of the slidable member for controlling the article delivery mechanism, and locking mechanism for the slidable member to preclude movement thereof during the operation of the article delivery mechanism.

13. In a vending machine the combination of coin actuated mechanism dependent for its operation upon the dimensions of a coin, an actuator member operatively connected with, and movable to various positions by the operation of, said coin actuated mechanism, and article-delivery mechanism associated therewith, said actuator member operating to control the operation of the article-delivery mechanism whereby said article-delivery mechanism is precluded ent for its operation upon a coin of predei termined dimensions, and means operable by the conjoint operation of the coin actuated mechanism and the movement of the slide for releasing the retaining device and thereby allowing the article fed to the delivery opening oi' the casing to be dispensed therefrom.

In a vending machine, coin actuated members associated with means whereby they are rendered dependent for their operation upon the dimensions of a coin, a transmitting member, means operated by the conjoint movement of the coin actuated members for imparting movement to the transmitting member, in combination with article-delivery mechanism, and means whereby the article-delivery mechanism is rendered operable for dispensing the commodities to be vended, when the transmitting member has been moved to a predetermined eXtent by the conjoint action of the coin actuated members.

16. In a vending machine, the combination with coin lactuated mechanism embodying a plurality of coin operated members positioned for engagement with the edge and face of a coin, of means for positioning a coin in engagement with said members, and dispensing mechanism controllable by the coin actuated mechanism.

17. In a vending machine, the combination with coin actuated mechanism embodying a plurality of coin operated members positioned for engagement with the edge and face of a coin, of a reciprocating member for positioning a coin between said members, and dispensing mechanism controllable by the coin actuated mechanism.

` 18. In a vending machine, the combination with coin actuated mechanism embodying a plurality of coin operated members positioned for engagement with the edge and face of al coin, of a reciprocating member for positioning a coin between said members, means Jio: checking the movement of the reciprocating member, and dispensing mechanism controllable by the coin actuated mechanism.

19. In a vending machine, the combination 0f a transmitting member, articledispensing mechanism dependent for its operation upon a predetermined movement of the transmitting member, means for moving a coin in a predetermined path, a movable coin-engaging member shiftable by contact with the edge of a moving coin, a second movable coin-engaging member shiftable by contact With the face of a moving coin, and means for aggregating the movements of both movable coin-engaging members and utilizing the resultant movement to shift the transmitting member, the article-dispensing mechanism being dependent for its operation upon the aggregate movements of the movable coin-engaging members a predetermined distance.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

CHARLES M. GREY.

Witnesses:

H. I. BERNHARD, JAS. H. GRIFFIN.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for vc cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

